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Fear Of Failure
“Why would I think about missing a shot I haven’t taken yet?”
This is a quote attributed to Michael Jordan that is paraphrased by one of his former teammates in the Documentary Series The Last Dance.
It’s a mindset that separates the elite from the average.
Most of us will ruminate on a possible future failure. Sometimes that fear of future failure is there for a reason. It can sort of kick us into gear to start getting to work.
For example, If you haven’t studied at all for an upcoming exam, thinking about the possible future failure can help get your head in the books and start studying.
But if you have been studying and working hard to prepare for the exam, ruminating on a possible future failure is mostly useless. It will likely lead you to self-sabotage, under-performance, or giving up altogether.
Marcus Aurelius said “you have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength”.
Thinking about and ruminating over a possible future failure goes against the stoic philosophy that external events are not within your control.
When you adopt the mindset that Jordan had throughout his basketball career you end up with a more deep-rooted self belief. You eliminate the unnecessary doubt and you focus more on the task at hand. You put more trust into your preparation and skills. You realize that you can’t control the outcome but you can control your actions.
This will all undoubtedly lead to greater performance in the long run.